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Empire Begins, Let Stars Trai Byers, Jussie Smollett and Bryshere “Yazz” Gray Rule Your Summer!

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Empire Begins, Let Stars Trai Byers, Jussie Smollett and Bryshere “Yazz” Gray Rule Your Summer! UNTIL SEASON TWO OF EMPIRE BEGINS, LET STARS TRAI BYERS, JUSSIE SMOLLETT AND BRYSHERE “YAZZ” GRAY RULE YOUR SUMMER! Every so often, a pop culture event occurs that spins the collective conversation in another direction. This year, that shift happened when Empire struck and introduced the world to the Lyon family, led by a diabolical patriarch and a just-released ex-con matriarch. Their three sons bear the weight of the parents’ sins while trying to carve out identi- ties of their own. Season one’s finale left 16.7 million view- ers hanging by a thread. Weeks before filming began for the next sea- son, ESSENCE chatted with the fictional Lyon broth- ers—Trai Byers (Andre), Jussie Smollett (Jamal) and Bryshere “Yazz” G ray (Hakeem)— about life, art and success. Here is what they shared. w THEBY REGINA R. ROBERTSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG LOTUS Trai (far left) wears a STYLING BY John Elliott + Co. tee JASON REMBERT and Philipp Plein pants. Jussie sports an Ermenegildo Zegna sweater and Private Stock harem pants. Yazz rocks a LYON Vivienne Westwood Gold Label cardigan, Hanes boxers, Reiss jeans and his own earrings. 84KINGS ESSENCE.COM JUNE 2015 If I can help someone else feel less alone, So what has this ride taught him about himself? Quite a bit. “As a grown man, I can say, without any conceit, that I’m very, very no matter what JUSSIE SMOLLETT capable” he says. “Not once did I ever say, I need to find a plan B they’re going to this plan A, because I knew that doing what I love just had to or Jussie Smollett, the set of Empire feels like life imitating work. Empire represents everything I wanted in my career, mixed through, I’m happy F art. That’s a good thing. Actually, it’s quite surreal when you up in a gumbo pot, and it’s amazing.” That said, he’s not giving up consider the strong kinship he feels with his character. Like his any info about next season. “I like my job and I want to keep it, so to have that on-screen self, Smollett, 32, is the middle child—he shares the I’ll just say that it will make season one look like The Brady Bunch.” “middle two” (of six) slot with his younger sister, actress Jurnee. opportunity. He’s also an artist and a free spirit, and he truly understands a son’s devotion to his mother. “We connect on so many levels,” he —JUSSIE SMOLLETT says of Jamal, “and I know we would absolutely be best friends.” TRAI BYERS The story of how Jussie came to be Jamal begins at the top of last year, just as news spread that Lee Daniels and Danny Strong ometimes life can shift so drastically in a split second that were creating Empire. Jussie was writing and recording an album S it seems impossible to remember what once was. Trai at the time, and when his older sister, Jazz, texted a link to an Byers, who portrays the Lyon family’s whip-smart but trou- article announcing the show. “I jumped on Instagram and direct- bled eldest son, Andre, knows that feeling well. messaged Lee and said, ‘Sir, I know you get this all the time, but Nearly three years ago, the 31-year-old actor found himself at I’m a singer, actor, dancer, songwriter and musician. I am Jamal a crossroads. The military brat, who considers Kansas City, Mis- Lyon in more ways than one.’ Then I kind of forgot I sent it.” He souri, home, had earned his master’s degree from the Yale School landed an audition—seven, in total. “They put me through the of Drama in 2011. It was smooth sailing for a while—there were wringer, but it was all worth it.” So was the acknowledgment he roles on All My Children and 90210, as well as a Broadway work- later received from Daniels. “He said, ‘You Instagrammed me, shop of Super Fly. His private life was thriving, too. Then it all came didn’t you?’ ” Yes. “ ‘You’re a smart little kitten.’ ” to a screeching halt. “Everything just stopped. Work stopped, a Snagging the role was the culmination of years of practice long-term relationship I was in just kind of fell from underneath me and focus and dedication. Inspired by the words of his favorite and some of my friends fell off, too. It was a tough time,” he admits. poet, Langston Hughes, Smollett held fast to his dreams As the oldest of six, he found solace by delving deeper as he grew up between New York City and Los Angeles. into his connection with God, which began at age 15 after When he wasn’t acting—as a kid he starred with his brothers and Byers had a gun pulled on him (he politely declines to discuss sisters on a short-lived 1990’s sitcom called On Our Own, and the details). During that difficult period he followed this direc- has appeared on The Mindy Project and Revenge—Smollett tion: God first in all things. He got quiet, read Scripture worked as a publicist, a clown for hire and a fund-raiser for the (especially Matthew, chapter 6, and Psalms 117 and 118) and nonprofit organization Artists for a New South Africa. The latter surrendered. He also became a magnet for others in search effort was his way of giving back. “From an early age, my mother of answers, and he began to wonder whether being a pastor taught us that we had choices, but what we didn’t have a choice was his calling...or was he meant to continue his artistic in was being socially active and loving each other,” he says. pursuits? Byers stayed open and waited. The first sign came “I believe that set the tone for the people we are today.” last year in the form of a phone call about Empire. Soon after It takes some prodding for him to admit, but the conversa- shooting the pilot, he was also invited to join the cast of tion he shared with Ellen DeGeneres last March was a form of Selma. That’s when he realized which path was laid before activism, too. “There is no closet, there’s never been a closet… him, and he got to stepping. that I’ve been in,” he told the talk-show host about his life as a The “Shakespearian quality” of Empire’s premise is what proud gay man. “The sun rose the next day, the clouds were out first piqued his interest. Next was the challenge of slipping and I was still able to go to Whole Foods, you know? And my into the skin of Andre, whom he describes as the show’s mother said, ‘Hey, baby,’ like she always does. Nothing changed.” “most tragic character, at least in season one. His mom was in Smollett, whose right arm is adorned with the equality symbol jail for half his life and his dad focuses on himself. I applaud (his left arm is etched with the words “I’m gonna make a him for going to school and coming back [home], but perhaps change…” from Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”), does he might have kept taking his medication if he was in a realize how his statement offered hope to others. “If I can help healthier environment.” Andre’s battle with bipolar disorder someone else feel less alone, no matter what they’re going has shed light on mental illness and touched people across through, I’m happy to have that opportunity.” demographics. In fact, one of the many fans who acknowledge Though Empire opened doors professionally, the show Byers during his interview at a Studio City, California, eatery kicked off on a rather solemn note for the Smollett siblings. The thanks him for putting a face on the condition. same day the show premiered, their father succumbed to But Byers is aware that some are watching him for other cancer. As the wound is still fresh, Smollett takes a deep breath reasons, too. He nods and smiles when his sculpted biceps, Jussie wears a before speaking of the loss. “My dad was a Black man in a Jew- which are quite visible beneath his long-sleeve T-shirt, DSquared2 shirt, ish man’s body,” he says with a gentle laugh. “He worked hard become the focus of the conversation. “Hey, I’m working on Public School shorts, but didn’t need a lot, and although we didn’t always see eye to me,” he says. “I work out for two reasons: one, because I’m an David Yurman eye, in the later years he was one of my favorite people. He was actor and two, because I’m somebody’s [future] husband. I wrap bracelet with really special.” Smollett is thankful for having had the chance to want to be prepared for the woman God has for me.” He’s black diamonds, Dean Harris say his final good-bye, after which came a revelation. “Some admittedly protective of his personal life. When the subject cuff andChristian people say you become who you are going to be, fully, when of his costar Grace Gealey arises, he denies whispers Louboutin shoes. you lose a parent. I feel that that’s somewhat true.” about an off-camera romance. “I wouldn’t do that to my w JUNE 2015 ESSENCE.COM 87 We’re going to make season one of Empire look like The Brady Bunch.
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